Antenna structure



Oct. 23, BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1'7, 1946 M Ma.

1117012 NE Y5,

H. BALTON 2,572,430

ANTENNA STRUCTURE Oct. 23, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1946 56 'w/ Jig, i

T l .N' i i ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 23, 1951 H. BALTON 2,572,430

ANTENNA STRUCTURE Filed May 17, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'IOR.

i mzw J'I'TORNE YS,

Oct. 23, 1951 I Filed May 17, 1946 H. BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTOR NEYS,

Oct. 23, 1951 H. BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 17, 1946 R 1--.- o u P JNVENTOR. Hernwnfim I ATTORNEKS Oct. 23, 1951 H. BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE 8 sheets-sheet 6 Filed May 1'7, 1946 INVEN'I'OR. fimnanBalfih-p 1 M 640454 ATTORNEYS,

H. BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE Oct. 23, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 17, 1946 Oct. 23, 1951 H. BALTON ANTENNA STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 17, 1946 INVEN'IOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 Herman Balton, Bloomfield, N. J assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N.:J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 17 1946,'Serial No. 670,357

. s ClaimshKCl. 250-3355) This invention relates to a directive antenna adapted to transmitor receive polarized radio waves. Such antennae are frequently of the mobile type and are provided with various means for retracting orstoring them while they are. being transported. The necessity of moving these antennae, chiefly by truck, has limited their practical size and consequently has restricted their range and effectiveness.

The broad object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a directional antenna equipped with extendable segments .so as to increaseits effectiverange.

Another object of this invention is to construct anantenna which may easily and quickly be reduced in a size so, as to make it highly mobile.

A feature of this invention is the novel locking device, at the ends of the extendable segments which enables the antenna to assume its desiredv parabolic shape. I

Another feature of this invention is the construction of the extendable section frames whereby they becomecapable of beingfolded into a minimum of space or forming a rigid Supp rt when extended.

A further feature of this invention isthe high-1 ly adjustable construction of the antenna mount}. ing whereby it may be moved to any azimuth setting up to the full 360, and raised to any desired angle of elevation.

A still further feature of the directional antenna is its mounting on the roof of the automobile truck whereby the folded antenna is broughtto rest upon a plurality of resilient supports. This mounting assures the rapid raising or' lowering of the antenna and its safe transportation.

Another object of this invention is the fully automatic nature of the antenna either in ex-' tending or retracting itself, once started' 1 This invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts; as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying "drawings, forming part hereof, is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a complete embodiment of the antenna.

-Figure 2 is a rear view, in elevation of the antenna.

Figure 3 is a partial front view, in' elevation, of the antenna reflector.

Figure 4 is a view, in perspective, of a segment Figure 5 is a view, in perspective, of a frame guide.-

Figure 6 is a view, in elevation,- showing the frame locking mechanism.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the segment extending and retracting mechanism.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the remainder of the construction shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged view, in plan, of the frame hinge construction.

Figure 11 is a partial front elevation of the antenna, with the'folded segments shown in' dotted lines.

It is mounted upon the truck top l5 and is cap-- able of being revolved through a full 360 bymeans of a motor I1 and a reducing gear I8. A supporting carriage I9, clearly shown in Figures 2 and 12, is attached to the top of the turntable l6 and forms a base for the antenna supports 20, 2|.

The antenna supports 20, 2| are substantially V shaped, as shown in Figure 2, and are attached at their upper extremities to bearings 22, 23. Said bearings 22, 23 embrace the ends of a trun nion tube 24 upon which the antenna reflector is rotatably mounted. The trunnion tube 24 is rotated by an electric motor 25 and reducing gear unit 26 which are coupled to it'by a shaft 21 and gearing 28. v I

;The antenna support 20 which is closest to the parabolic reflector is pivoted at 29 upon the carriage 9. The rearwardly extending support 2| isfreely mounted upon a cross-bar 30- which forms part of the carriage assembly. The upper ends of the support 2| are rotatably secured to the trunnion bearings 22, 23. The center of the cross-bar 30, best shown in Figure 12, is provided forces the antenna support 2| forward andupreflector to assume the erect position, shown Figure 1. v

The antenna reflector structure 36, best shown ing folded, since only alternate frames are provided with actuating linkage, as hereinafter described. Thus the motion of the actuated frames is transmitted through the hook andslot members to actuate all the frames.

The foldable frames are covered on one face 7 with wire mesh '43 similar to that which was placed over; theerigid member of-- the antenna reflector. The edge of the. said mesh43 is secured by thin metal strips 51 and 51a. These strips :51; also serve to maintain electrical contact be- I tweenthe several frames.

in Figures 2 and 3, radiates,from arcentraiihub.

31 which is secured to the trunniontube 2.4;. Av

plurality of spokes 38 extend from the periphery of the hub 31 and secure a centr l rim sfato the- 7 Attached to the rim 39 and radi'-' ating therefrom are a plurality of arms-ML Each;

said hub 31.

arm is formed of two lengths of rigid tubing connested h r a the riouter ds -an i ;.:s1 ,pported at intermediate points by braces 4|. The a are n tete nfe m. ethe arabel h p of the reflector ehdvsu nqrt a Wire me h whi h s. s u d: n pl c by m a trips 44,

(see Figure An outer rigid rinrfl; holds the rm flfi n a fi ed; pos ti n; nIthe prese t m od ment f the n enti h s, p tio of hentenn h aimeX-im m d a e f eight feet and comprises the rigid member hereina te er e t The remainder of theantenna consistsof aphl ali o f ld ne se tio which, e extended, inc ase he ize Q he n a fle e tor 36 and the mechanical means whereby the.

un oldin an e di a o th i e ons s accomp i Each folding section 45-is made upiof-arigi d r me 6 ;shewn n de l n ur e- S' d frame 45 comprises two tubular sidemember 41. fas-,-.

nec at; the r nner; en steaa u ular cro member 48 and diverging toward their: outerextremities where they are secured to an outer rim segment-49. The segment-J42 is formed with an L shaped cr ss -seetion, The entire frame is shaped so that the side, members 4] conform with the parabolic shape of the reflector 35-, ,the

ri s m nts 9 ar .e1 rv d n the are: t antenna pe meter and heatubular: z ssern mber 68 parallels the central rim 39,

Each frame i 16%. has. a up ert .5 a tache to the rear of one of the: side members; 41. support 50 gives the f ramefiflrigidity while ale n the ames to; he.v f lden; u ne. 3 39 3 Braces. 5t u i' hQl" within a min mum of, spa e-1 strengthen this assembly.

The rim: segm nt 49 ben rear ardly. t v ne A slot 5,3 is; provided in the, said gi iC e.,nlember;i'a2 and is shown in detail in Figuret5, A reinforcing brackr' et .54 is riveted to the uide member 5 2 and comend to form a guide member 52;.

pletes this construction The opposite end; of; the rim segment 49, has a hook; 5'5, shewn in detail in Figure; 6.; The hook; 55; engages with th s t 53 on thetadiai fi l ii fi'm se ment As whenth anten av is. eXt n d-- This, oins the 'l eld able sections 4.6:. into. a r id st uctur A; ideroller 56 is positioned on the rim segment, 49 so; tha it. wil ri al n ,th :rearwardl eii e l d segment guide 52 and; cause the-,hook-Bii ,to catch the slot 53, -A bottom plan ofthe hook and; slot on tructio in; en g e s-s wn: Fi

ure 7. I H t Th oo an le on u o :eee e n col apse; he fra Mia-whe he s The mechanism by which the frames 46 are extendedand fgldedjs shown in Figures 8 and 9.

' Akternate'iarms lilfare provided with a push rod "-58 which is attached to a nut 59 threaded upon a by stopping the actuating motor 11.

V s crewrfi le, Thescrew 60 is rotated by reduction gears, diagrammatically shown at 62, and is en- -cIoSedin -a tubular housing 6|.

Said housing is freely pivoted at its end, to allow for the motion of thelpushrgdifi when it isv operated. The rota tionloft the; screw'vfilircauses the nut 59: to move V 7 reflector. One end of theframe is rotatablysupported by a bracket fil which turns upon a pivot": pin 68 carried bya bracketBQ-mountedupon the rigid member of the antenna. Theopposite end of the frame is'pivoted upon a ball joint 1 l1 car-4 ried by the rigid antennamember and entering 'a socket 12 at theend of an arm I l The construc -J tion of the means whereby; the folda-ble frames are hinged-is be'stshown in Figure -l0-.- I-t is=clear that the exact;positioning of the pivoted members is critical inasmuch as the arc throughwh-ich' each' frame will travel in opening and closing depends upon thislocation Themajor'part of the weight of each frame is tak'en up by the pivot pin. Said pivot pin 68; lies ina different plane from the? axis of the ball joint. The ball jointserves :as asupplementary meansof support and as 'aguide.

By referring again t Eigure Q'it will be seen that asthe link isjmoyed forward by the push rod 58-andlever 83, it forces the frame to rotate; up'on the pivotal members 68,-. Iii-until it folds in upon therigid portion of the reflector. 'As each alternate frame is swung inwardly it carries with it an adjacent frame, by the; operation'of'the hook member 5 .e re n p evi uslyt ser b dh frames 45 finally come to rest, as shown'in Eigure 1i1', .in an ov lapn ngpos t e wherein h y Qe-, py' a minimum, otispajee, and. ay Jea ilyff e e upen the, truekr eplf I53.

Areverse' motion ofthe push rod 58iwill cause, the. frames -to unfol'si' an d, hook their peripheral segments 49. into a. rigid enter, e n nn is thereupon ready for use. As the antenna bee omes fully opened, apdogf 13, shown in Figure .8, on the push rod 58 engages, a rollerll carried by the-operating lever .15 of a limit switch J6, there- A .seeensi... dogg'lalisattached-the-pushrod 5 8 .f or stopping the 'motor 'I'I when the frames, are completely folded. This dog 1.8,.0peratesga second, limit' I switch (not shown) by engaging'the lever;j l Q thereof. The operation of the antenna is therefore fully automatic, once started.

An adjustable stop 80 is provided on the arm 40 to regulate the position of the frame 46 when the folding section is extended. This stop comprises a setscrew 8| which is threaded into a small flange 82 integral with the arm 40. A nut 80a locks the adjusted screw 8| in position. It is within the purview of this invention to adjust these stops 80 so as to focus the antenna upon a given point and thereby improve or intensify the transmitted signal.

The power necessary to actuate the folding members comes from a motor "ll mounted on the inner rim 39. As shown in Figure 3, this motor is connected to a train of hollow shafts 83 joined together by universal couplings 84, so that they may be placed around the circumference of the inner rim 39. The reduction gear 62 which turns the screw 60 in each of the activating arms is coupled to the shafts 83.

The focal point of the antenna reflector is occupied by the well known dipole 85 which is connected by co-axial cable 86 to the radio apparatus within the truck. Such apparatus may comprise a transmitter, a receiver or a combined transmitter-receiver, as used, for example, in radar.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections permanently afflxed thereto, said sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a cross member and an arcuate rim section, the whole being covered on one face by a wire mesh, means on said rim section to lock said sections together when extended and means for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna structure.

2. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections permanently aflixed thereto, said sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a cross member and an arcuate rim section, the whole being covered on one face by a wire mesh, means on adjacent rim sections comprising a slot on one rim engageable by a hook on the next rim to lock the foldable sections together when extended, and means for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna structure.

3. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections permanently affixed thereto, said sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a cross member and an arcuate rim section, the whole being covered on one face by a wire mesh, means on adjacent rim sections comprising a slot on a rearwardly bent portion of one rim engageable by a hook on the next rim to lock the foldable sections together when extended, and means for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna structure.

4. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections permanently affixed thereto, said sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a, cross member and an arcuate rim section, the whole being covered on one face by a wire mesh, means on adjacent rim sections comprising a slot on a rearwardly bent portion of one rim engageable by a hook piloted by a guide roller on the next rim to lock the foldable sections together when extended, and means for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna structure.

5. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections, said foldable sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a cross member and an arcuate rim section. the whole being covered on one face by a wire mesh, means on adjacent rim sections comprising a slot on one rim engageable by a hook on the next rim to lock the foldable sections together when extended, and means co-operating with alternate frames for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna structure.

6. In a parabolic directional antenna having a rigid parabolic central section adapted to support a plurality of foldable sections, said foldable sections comprising a frame of divergent side members, a cross member and an arcuate rim section, the whole being covered on one face by an open work of conductive material, means on adjacent rim sections comprising a slot on one rim engageable by a hook on the next rim to lock the foldable sections together when extended, and means cooperating with alternate frames comprising in combination, a. motor, a shaft attached to said motor, reducin gearing driven by said shaft, a screw actuated by said gearing, a nut riding upon said screw, a push rod attached to said nut, a lever actuated by the push rod, a link engaging said lever, for extending said foldable sections to form a rigid antenna. structure.

HERMAN BALTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 908,838 Brown Jan. 5, 1909 1,683,270 Taylor Sept. 4, 1928 1,721,128 Mathiesen July 16, 1929 2,049,070 Mathieu July 28, 1936 2,072,262 Herzog et al Mar. 2, 1937 2,181,181 Gerhard Nov. 28, 1939 2,298,880 Gartenmeister Oct. 13, 1942 2,367,164 Yerger Jan. 9, 1945 2,471,828 Mautner May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 495,019 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1938 216,556 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1941 

